Snowshoe binding



28, 1958 H. HOWE 2,82

SNOWSHOE BINDING Filed Dec. 24, 1956 INVENTOR A A/Pap Haw:

United States Patent SNOWSHOE BINDING Harold Howe, Rowayton, Conn., assignor to Howe Folding Furniture, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 24, 1956, Serial No. 630,174

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-45) Y This application relates to a snowshoe binding characterized by providing control of the snowshoe primarily from the heel of the users boot.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient snowshoe binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a binding in which the parts coact to provide control from the heel of the users boot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a binding which may be readily assembled on a snowshoe and which serves to hold both the toe and the heel of a users boot from displacement laterally of the snowshoe while permitting the heel to rise freely from the snowshoe. The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the snowshoe binding.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the binding positioning a users boot on a snowshoe.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view showing the relation of the parts of the binding to the sole of the boot with part of the webbing omitted.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing a modified form of triangular heel support means.

Figure 6 is a detail view through the frame of the snowshoe showing hook means for adjusting of one end of heel support means, and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of another modification of the invention showing control straps extending from the snowshoe frame adjacent the toe cord to adjacent the respective ends of the heel piece or to the instep strap.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein the binding comprises a toe piece assembly and a combination instep and heel engaging piece, the latter carrying means serving both to maintain the boot properly within and against the toe piece and at the same time preventing swinging of the heel of the boot from side to side relative to the snowshoe.

The toe piece comprises a strap 10 which extends over the toe of the boot 12 and is engaged with the snowshoe on either side of the boot close to the boot in any suitable way. As shown herein the strap 10 is passed 1 under the toe cord 14 which comprises part of the snowshoe lacing, -on either side of the boot, and the ends of the strap are then secured together over the toe of the boot.

The toe cord is a cross lacing of enlarged size and strength at the rear margin of the spaces conventionally provided in the lacing so that the toe of the users boot may move down into it as the heel of the foot is raised with each step.

If desired a toe cover member 16 may be also provided, of substantially greater width than the width of the toe strap 10, through which the toe strap may be passed to hold member 16 in position over the toe of the boot thus givingwider frictional contact and promoting comfort by 2,821,031 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 distributing the pressure of the strap. As shown strap 10 is passed through the opposed pairs of slots 17a and 17b in member 16 both before and after being passed under the toe cord on either side of the boot, thus engaging member 16 and making two passes over it.

The toe piece is distinguished from other toe pieces of which I have knowledge by what I will designate as a stop member 18 extending at right angles to the toe strap 10 and suitably secured at one end, 18a, to the snowshoe preferably to the toe cord 14, as for example by raw hide lacing 15, and suitably secured at its other end, 18b, to the toe strap assembly, and preferably to toe cover member 16 if it is employed as part of the toe piece assembly, as by lacing 19. At one end of member 18 a plurality of sets of lacing holes have been provided so that the length of member 18 may be adjusted according to the length of the users boot.

Member 18 is desirably an inch and one-half or more in width to provide contact with the front end of the boot over and around the toe of the boot and thus coacts with the toe strap 10 in providing means for positioning the toe of the boot and fixing the position of the boot forwardly of the snowshoe.

Extending under and around the boot at the instep is the instep strap 20 which also may have threaded thereon a cover member 22. Like the toe strap the instep strap is of course adjustable for accommodation to boots of different sizes and for this purpose these straps may be punched with holes different distances from one end of the strap and provided with a buckle at the other end of the strap in well known manner.

The instep strap 20 is threaded through slits 23 provided adjacent the forward ends of a U-shaped heel piece 24 which extends around the heel of the boot and is held in close frictional engagement with the heel by its engagement with said instep strap 20 on either side of the boot. Desirably a plurality of pairs of slits 23 are provided in the respective ends of member 24 so that a given member 24 may be used with boots of different size, the pair of slits 23 selected for engagement with the instep strap 20 being the pair which will best serve the purpose of holding the member 24 tightly around the heel of the boot. It is desirable that the member 24 be of substantial height to provide a substantial area of frictional contact with the boot heel and I have obtained good results with such members having a height of from 1 /2" to 2" and thus able to frictionally engage the heel of the boot from adjacent the bottom of the heel up to a point on a level with the vamp of the boot.

An important part of my invention is the provision of means such as strap 26 for engaging the heel piece 24 at or adjacent the rear of the heel, said member having forwardly extending portions adapted for connection to the snowshoe on opposite sides of the users boot but spaced laterally from the boot to provide a triangularly disposed support for the heel exerting pressure on the heel from points spaced apart a substantial distance, preferably the full width of the snowshoe.

While the connection between members 26 and 24 may be detachable I prefer to provide rigid engagement as for example by rivets 28 as shown herein.

Member 26 may comprise two separate straps each attached at one end to heel piece 24 behind the heel and extending forwardly and attached at the other end to the snowshoe at or adjacent to the respective side portions of the snowshoe frame F, at points spaced apart substantially the full width of the snowshoe, or preferably may be a single strap secured intermediate its ends to the heel piece 24 with its ends extending forwardly and secured to the snowshoe at points well spaced apart on opposite sides of boot 12, preferably adjacent the ends of theme strap 3 but rearwardly of it. Thistriangularsupport-for. the heel is provided, which serves both to determine the positionof the boot rearwardly of the snowshoe, and, because of the wide spacing between theends of member 26, prevents the heel from moving substan'ttially from side to side relativ to the snowshoe. The construction shown'herein provides a toe piece assembly which coacts withthe heel control'means to position the boot on'the snowshoe and provide firm control of the snowshoe primarily from'the heel, making it much easier and less tiring for the user to manipulate the snowvto hold the latter in position at the back of the heel'of the boot. 'The length of therespective free ends of means.26

mayibe adjusted accordingto the size of the. boot .and

also to fix the boot'in angular relation to. the snowshoefif such position is desired by the user. a i 'To facilitatethe attachmentof the ends of heel control means 26 ator adjacent the respective sides'of the snowshoe,.the means 26-may comprise three strap portions -26a,-26band 260, members 26b and 260 eachhavinga slit 30 adjacentone end so that this end of the strapmay be loopedaroundt the -side. frame of the snowshoe or if desired around one ortmore of the crosslacings of the snowshoe adjacent the side frame, the. other ends ofzsaid Tmembers 26b and- 26c:having. a buckle to adjustably en- ..gage the respective ends ofmember 26a.which.in this case is provided with a series of holes. adjacenteach off its ends I for engagement .with the bucklescarried by. members 26b and 260.

Whilethe parts comprising this.bindingmayall be;made of soft fiexible leather or rawhide itzwillbeunderstood N42 .and 44 can...be attached to instep strap. 20,,but,as, sho. wn

they are attached to the heel piece 24 adjacent the respective front ends of the heel piece and close to the points of interconnection between the heel piece 24 and instep strap 20. As shown vertical slits 46 and 48 are provided in the respective ends ofheelpiece 24 to receive the strap means 42 and 44 but it will be understood said strap means 42 and 44scanrbe attached to heelpiece 24 in other ways, as for example by rivets, or the ends oft the heel piece its'elf may be'extended to provide straps .toservciithe purpose of strap means 42 and 44. i

Straps 42 and 44 serve the same purpose as the heel strap means 26- shownin Figures and the heel strap means 32, 34 and -36 shown, in Figures 5 and 6 which is to fix the position of the heel of the boot on the snowshoe and prevent it from swinging back and forth laterally of the snowshoe.

' There has thus beemprovidedastructure in which the :objects of the invention are obtainedin a thoroughly practical manner. The binding has the advantages of-simplicity'and'of economy and easy transferability' as aunit from one snowshoeto another and =the parts may be readily replaced individually.

What Iclaini is:

l. A snowshoe binding adapted 'to-provide control-from the heel oftheusersboot-comprising, means attached to means adjustable. in 'length 'for' engaging the heel of1the bootand exerting pressure on the boot tokeep it in abutting relation with said stop member, said last mentioned means having portions extending forwardly and outwardly from the heel and adapted for attachment to the snowshoe at points spaced l'aterally'of the snowshoe. thus providing a .triangular support with'the. base'of'the' triangle that the inventionis lot limited' to the use of'any particular 1 materials. It will be understood-for. exampleythat ,the heel piece may comprise a metalstrapwithprovision 'for adjusting-its length by providing it-withone or more: coil spring sections. Theimportantthing is to provide heel support means which is triangular in form i. e. extending to the rear-of the heel from'points located forwardlyof the heel and spaced well apart-from the respective sides of the boot.

As shown in Figure 5; aflat flexible-steel bandimember 32 is riveted to a U-shaped heel piece 24, made of leather or other suitable material able to frictionally engage the heel of the boot, 'and' the steel "straps 34" and--36 may be "welded toopposite ends .of'mernber 3210 extend onop- 1 posite sides of the boot 'topoints on'the'snowshoespac'ed laterally from the boot, each of said steel straps 34 and i '36 including a coil springsection 3810 make these strap members self-accommodating todiiferentsizesof'boots. The outer ends of the steel straps 34" and 36'may'be fastened to the snowshoein various waysas for example by attachment to hooks 40 anchored in the respective sides spectively are attached tothe .snowshoeon either side; of

.the boot, and preferably adjacent the toe: cord, :andhave,

their other or rear=endsattached-to2the heel piece 24::at

points "46 and 48 which arespaced' substantially from-:the

substantially. equalv to the widthoffthe snowshoe in its mid-portion.

2. A. snowshoebinding comprisingv a .toe vpiecei' for positioning the toe of a users boot on a snowshoe, aheel piece. extending around the heel of the. boot, :an' instep strap for extending under the boot and around the ,users instep, .the respective forward ends of said heel piece being connected tosa'id instep strap ontopposite sides of .theboot and held in position by said;:instep strap, andheeLposi- ...tioning meansasecured to the portion of the heel-piece whichextends around therear oftheheeloftheboot and secured to thea'sn'owshoe' atapoints' on opposite; sidesgof theboot. and spaced; apartilater-ally of the snowshoe agdis- ,tance substantially equal 'IOIhB WidflIOf the snowshoe.

3.;A.;snowshoe binding comprising .meansf for positioning. the toe andpreventing it, from movinglaterally or "forwardly of the snowshomand otherwmeansextending 1 aroundthe rear: of ;the :heel. of the boot from points-on V the snowshoexim approximate alignment with the L-IOGCOId and spaced away from thesides of'the boot by attachment 7 to thesnowshoe frame.

4. A'snowshoe :binding for. positioning a users foot'ion a snowshoe comprising,.:a .toe piece,.and. flexiblev means extending forwardly. from the :users .heel and having diverging portions extending outwardly from. the .users footand adapted forattachment to the snowshoe at points spaced laterally of the snowshoe thus providing. heel 'control from a base line which is substantially equal inlength to the width of'the snowshoe at said base line.

I References Cited inthe file of .this: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,883 Berry Aug. 9;. 1938 2,365,041 Balcomb, Dec. 7.12,, 19.44 2,385,944 .r Rueckert.- ..-..,-Oct.i52,..145

3.251 1,087 Villemur June; .13 ,j .1950 2,699,6 l3 Peterson ..Y Jan. 18,1955

2,769,250 Rinkinen Novfi 6;1956

rear of the heel of the boot. The rear ends of strap means 15 

